Floor construction



Dec. 26, 1933. E WAL-TER ET AL 1,940,705

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 21, 1931 27 Y BY l 2&4@ L/qfuw Wm @by A TTORNEYS.

4(l Kv 'to protect this ange and flreproof it. 4 The widthJ of the two blocks and their shapewhere they meet K Patented Dec. 26, 1933 i f v1,940,705"

PATENT yol-"Flcs .i

` FLooR CONSTRUCTION Ernest walten Montclair,V and Elmer E. Koehler, Rutherford, N. J.-

Application August 21, 1931. serial No. 558.4731.; i

`s claims. (orizz- 66) l VOur inventionrelates to oor constructions and refers particularly to floor constructions composed of hollow re `proof blocks such. as those which are made from clay or concrete.

The value of hollow lire proof blocks, and particularlyconcrete blocks,` is well known and their general adoption is proof of their utility.

Among the desirable features incident vto :floor constructions composed of concrete, and similar, hollow blocks are the adaptability of .the blocks to spans and lengthspf diierent dimensions,

their ease `of' incorporation and construction into l the linished iiooring, the rigidity and stability of the produced flooring, their adaptability to form` `aconcrete unit with the poured concrete.

The hollow blocks of our invention possess all of the above, and othervaluable novel features, as will be evident upon a consideration of our speciiicationancl its accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to hollow building blocks adapted particularly for `employmentr with `light l weighti'steel I-shaped beam joists and are vol? such construction that may be positioned between such beams and rmlylocked inplace by means-o1` `wedges or concrete poured between them, the construction `and arrangement being such that a layer of concrete thereon `may be unified with concrete between the blocksand the blocks themselves thus producing are-pr`oof lightfloor'construction of greatrigidity,A 1 A f two skew blocks only instead of two skew blocks,

a number of intermediate blocks and a'key block incident to previously known construction. These skew blocks can be made of clay, concrete, gypsum or any similar material which `can be formed into precast shape. The blocks-are approximately the same height `as the steel joistsand are;

usually provided with a ange on the bottom `which nts under the V-flange ofthe I-beam so as in the center is such that when they `are placed against the joists there is a wedge shaped space left between them which may vary from Zero toabout 1" on the bottom. Awedge of variable thickness made of concrete, clay, gypsum, steel,

wood or any other suitable material is then inserted and forced downtight.i This wedge will then hold the beams in position. A stiff grout'is Vthen poured into-this joint and also into thej The` thickness of the. wedge should besuch thatV than 1"?.

Our invention consists of a oor ar'chfmade of locks.

` our floor. construction. r

the wedge after it is driven into theslotremains near4 the top ofthe blocks so as to be'able to take care of the arch thrust. If the wedge would be selected thatvwas'too thin it'would go too far to the bottom. Sucha wedge would nothave any G0. value for holdingfthe arch.` .The construction of this arch system differs from the usual arch in the omission of the intermediate and the keyy blocks. v, l However,` these .wedges can be omitted. `If'the 65 blocks are erected as shown in Figure 2 where a temporary plank 43 is set up, the blocks are laid on this plank and at the same time held up on the bottom flanges of the I beams. After they are all laid a cementrgroutior concrete is poured 70, into the wedge spacebetween the blocks and also between the space between they blocks and the' joists. After the cement is set this makes a'solid oor construction.` y

The disadvantages of the present employed key v block are that, if thesteel isnot set accuratelyA on centersso as to t theblock'sizes on hand, the key `block may either Anot drop down far i enouglnwhich will make itstick out on top, or

itv may drop down toofar which gives an unsatisfactory ceiling. In practice the steel joists are usually not spacedvery accurately. The spacing varies` often from a fractionof an inch to more Innour systemwe make the two blocks small 85. enough to t into the smallest space and by then pouringcement between the blocks it is not neces-` sary to wedge them tight against the flanges and anyr varying space betweenthe blocks is taken vup by the cement which is llecl into the spaces.

The novel and'useful features of our invention are clearly -set forth in the accompanying draw-J ing with our descriptionthereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustratingv 4modified forms of our -inventiongrsimilar parts are 95` designated by similar numerals.

Figure l is a perspective `View of a floor con-iV struction 4employing `one form of our hollow Figure-2 is a perspective View of the construc- 100 tion of Figure l, with cement contained vwithin i the crevices between .the blocks and the joistsj4 Figure 3 is an end viewof Figure Ziwith the cement flooring laid.

Figure pfl is a section through the line 4--4 of'105 Figure 3..v i

Figure 5 is an end View of a modied' form of` The particular form of our iloor construction shown in Figures f1 to 4 inclusive comprises the 110 two steel I beams 15 and 16, having'the webs 17 and 18, and the flange ends 19, 2i), 21 and 22 respectively.

A plurality of skew blocks are then positioned 5 as shown.` These particular skew blocks comprise a bottom 23, an angularly positioned side 24, a top 25, a curved or inclined side 26 having a recess 2'?y therein and aA diagonal transverse strengthening wall128, vthe bottom 23 extending as a flange beyond the side 26 in orderthat the two blocks upon opposite sides of a beam will practically meet below the beam lower flange to protect its under face.

The inclined part 28 of the blockis on the side next to an I beam. Due -to5 this inclined part, the block can be dropped into position from above by revolving it around the recess27,pin

engagement with the lower flange of the I` beam, the inclination of the side 26 being sufficient to clear the top flange of the I beam.v Also the outer side 24, as yit swings downward, will clear the outer side block. Y

It will be noted that the web 28 in our Yblock 25. runs diagonally from the topcenter between the beams tothe bottom near thebeams. The advantage of the inclined web 28 is that it carries the load the same as inY an arch direct from the center between the beams to the lower flanges 30.Y of these beams, and such -a block is thus much stronger.

`A`series of these skew blocks are positioned along the two faces of the beams, the blocks being of such'width that there is a space between the walls 24, 24,.of opposed blocks.

f Most desirablyfthe blocks, such as 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42, are-laidon a temporary plank 43, as shown in Figure 2, wedges,such as 29, 30, V31, 32 and 33, shown in Figure 1, being omitted.

Cement groutV 35.is then poured over the whole floor area which fills all the empty spaces bei tweenthe blocks and around the I'beams., This grout can be made flush-on top with the blocks or it canbe raisedabove the blocks as shown at' 45136 on the left of Figure 3. After this cement grout is set the plank is removed.

-It will be Vnoted that, the lower and upper fiat faces ofreach skew" block, provided respectively k byrits lower and upper walls 23 and 25, are parallel with one another. With opposed series of these blocks in the oor, as above described' and showny in thedrawing, the lower faces of 'the' These skewiblocks are firmly locked in place and to the I beams by means of the cementitious material 35 between the spaced opposed upwardly flaring inclined faces of their sides 24 and also between the inclined faces of their sides 26 and -1 beams. Thelower portions .of the side walls 26 areshown as abutting against the web faces of the I beams. The exposed flange end faces of the beams at the top, as well asalso the top faces of the blocks, can be covered by means of the 7@ cementitious material .36, which is shown as formed in the same mass with the cementitious material-35.

It will thus be seen that our construction comprises'a unified mass of cement comprising Athe ,blocks and the poured cement, supported by the of a' previously positioned opposedV shape, number, arrangement and composition of parts as shownand described as these are given simply'as a means for clearly describing our invention.

What we claim' isz- 1.',In afloor construction, in combination, a set of joists comprising spaced I beams at the same 'level havingl their'webs substantially parallel with one another, two series'of'cementitious skew blocks'having adjacent opposed side faces and having lower portions at their opposite sides supported upon the lower flanges `of the respectiveaI beamsell of these skew blocks havingr upper flat faces `disposed in alignment with one 'another in Yan upper horizontal plane and having lower flat faces 'parallel with their upper nat faces and disposed in alignment with'ene another ina 105 lower parallel horizontaliplane, these blocks' also having sidefaces inclined away from the web of" the'I beam upwardly to their'upper fiat faces, and a continuous filler in the space between'the web of the I beam and said inclined faces and entirely covering `the latter up to the level of their upper flat faces with'respect to all of said blocks and I beams. f

2. In ai'ilocr construction, in combination, a set .of joists'comprisingspaced I beams at the 115 same level having their webs substantially parallelv with one another, two series 'of cementitious skewblocks having adjacent opposed side 'faces flaring upwardly'away fromone another and havinglower portionsat their opposite 'sides supported upon the lower flanges of the respective I beams, all of' these skew blocks having lower at faces 'extending throughout their bottoms' with these-lowerfaces disposed in 'alignment in arlower horizontal plane, these skewblocks having upper fiat faces all disposed in alignment with one another and also in alignmentwith the upper faces ofthe upper flanges of the I beams in an upper 'horizontal plane parallel with the'lower; horizontal planeythese upper flat faces extending'from the tops of saidopposed flat side faces to a lineV in vspaced relation-*with the edge of the top iiange ofthe respective I beams, these blocks also having side faces inclined upwardly away,` from the webs ofthe I beams andnjoining their upper flatfaces along 'said lines in spaced relation" with the edges of the upper flanges of the I beams, a continuous cementitious filler filling all of the space between said upwardly flaring iiatside faces, and a continuous cementitious filler 140 filling all of leach of the spaces between the I beams and said side faces which incline upwardly away from the webs of the I beams.

3. `In a iioor construction, in combination, a set' of joistscomprising spaced I beams atvthe same level having rtheir webs substantially parallel with one anothenrtwo adjacent series of cemetitious skew blocks having adjacent opposed inclined flat side faces flaring upwardly in spaced relation roo `from'thebottoms to the tops thereof, the other 15Gy side faces of these blocks in the lower part thereof above theirbottoms each-having a grooved recesstherein into which is received the adjacent lower fiange of an I beam for thereby supporting the skew blocks upon said I-beam flanges with the bottoms of the skew blocks extending beneath said flanges, the bottomsof the skew blockspro'- vidingthroughout their extent lower flat faces all in alignment with one another-irialower horizontal plane, the topsof these skew blocks providing throughout theirextent upper fiat faces all in alignment with one another and with the upper faces of the upper flanges of the I beams in an upper horizontal plane parallel with the lower horizontal plane with these upper flat faces of each series of skew blocks terminating along a line spaced away from the edge of the top flange of an adjacent I beam, the side faces of these blocks adjacent .to the I beams being inclined upwardly away from the webs of the I beams and joining their upperrfiat faces along saidlines in spaced relation with the edges of the upper flangesV of the I beams, a continuous cementitious filler filling all of the space between said opposed "upwardly flaring inclined side faces, and individually continuous cementitious fillers respectively filling all of each of the spaces between the I beams and said side faces which incline upwardly away from the webs of the I beams.

4. In a floor construction, in combination, a set of joists comprising spaced I beams rat theV same level having their webs substantially parallel with one another, two adjacent series of hollow cem-` entitious skew blocks having top and bottomA walls respectively providing upper and lower fiat parallel faces and arranged in the floor with their upper faces all in alignmentwith one another and in alignment with the upper faces of the upper flanges of the I beams in an upper hori- .zontal plane, said bottom walls providing fiat lower faces all inV alignment with one another in a lower horizontal plane parallel with the upper horizontal plane, said skew blocks in the respec* tive series thereof' having adjacent side walls providing opposed inclined faces which fiare upwardly in spaced'relation with one another from said lower faces to said upper faces, a lower portion of each of the skew blocks adjacent toan I beam being supported upon the lower flange of the I beam, said skew blocks in the respective series thereof having side walls adjacent the I beams providing inclined faces which diverge upwardly away from the webs of the respective I beams and join said upper flat faces along a line spaced from the edge of the upper flange of the I beam, each of said hollow skew blocks having an internal strengthening web running diagonally from side to side and from Ybottom to top from adjacent said lower portion supported on the lower I beam flange to substantially the junction between the opposite side wall and the top wall and in line with the upper portions of the opposed faces of these side walls, a continuous cementitious filler filling all of the space between said opposed upwardly flaring inclined side faces, and

individually continuous cementitious fillers respectively filling all of each of the spaces between the Ibeams and said inclined faces which diverge upwardly away from the webs of the I beams.

vY; 5. In a floor construction, in combination, a set of joists comprising spaced I beams at the same level having their webs substantially parallel with oneanother, two adjacent series of hollow cementitious skew blocks having top and bottom walls respectively providing upper and lower fiat parallel faces and arranged in the floor with their upperV faces all in alignment with one another and in'alignment with the upper faces of the'upper flanges of the I beams in an upper'horizontal plane, said bottom walls extending beneath the adjacent lower-flanges of the I beams and providing throughout their extent lower flat faces all in alignment with one another in a lower horizon'- tal plane parallel with the upper horizontalv plane, said skew blocks in the respective seriesY thereof having adjacent side walls providing opposed in-` clined faceswhich flare upwardly in spaced rela'- tion with one another from said lower faces to said upper faces, said skew blocks in the respective series thereof having side walls adjacent the webs of the respective I beams providing inclined faces which diverge upwardly awayfrom saidwebs and join saidupper fiat faces along a line spaced from the edge of the upper flange of the I beam, the

lower portions of these latter side walls being provided with a recess which forms a groove above the adjacent edge portion of the bottom wall with the adjacent'lower flange of an I beamentering said groove for thereby supporting said skew blocks upon said I-beam flanges, said hollow skew blocks each having an internal strengthening web running diagonally from adjacent said supporting groove to the opposite upper corner vformed by the portion of the top wall remote from the I beam and the upper portion adjacent the side wall and in line with the upper portions of the opposed faces of these side walls, and

continuous cementitious material filling the space between said opposed inclined faces and filling the spaces between the I beams and -said inclined faces which diverge from their webs, said cemi entitious `material extending upward to a level above and so as to cover said upper facesof the skew blocks and said upper'faces of the ,upper flanges of the I beams.

6. A cementitious skew block 'for floor con-V face thus being narrower than said lower face,

another side face with 4its lower part even with the edge ofthe lower face and thence inclined upwardly and inwardly of the block to meet said narrower upper face,and a deep horizontal longitudinal groove in said lower part of the latter side face adjacently spaced above said lower face. Y y

7. A hollow cementitious skew block for floor construction comprising top and bottom walls respectively providing upper and lower flat faces parallel with one another, a side wall connecting adjacent edge portions o-f the top and bottom walls and providing a fiat face, an opposite sidel wallrisingfrom the bottom wall which it connects with the top wall and provides a side face inclined upwardly and inwardly of the block and meets the adjacent edge of said upper flat face, and an 'internal strengthening web running diagonally from side to side and from top to bottom from the connection of said flat-faced side wall with the top wall to the place at which said opposite side wall rises from the bottom wall.

8. A hollow cementitious skew block for floor construction comprising a` widerbottom Wall anda narrower top `wall respectivelyV providingV correspondingly Wider andnarrower lower and upper flat faces parallel with one another,l a side wall connecting adjacent edge portions oi the Y toppand bottom walls and providing al fiat face throughout its extent, an opposite side wall con- Y nesting the otherredge portions of the top and of the block andjoining the edge of said narrower upper at face, a deep longitudinal groove in theY lower portion oi the latter side wall ex.

tending inwardly from its side face adjacent to the bottom Wall, and. an internal strengthening web ruiming diagonally from'. side to side and from topvto bottom and connecting the .junotion of said top wall and said at-fnacedside. wall with the opposite side wall and bottom Wall around saidA groove.

ERNEST WALTER. ELMER E. KOEHLER. 

